Brave Arsenal want it known they are planning a big summer – but they won’t meet West Ham’s demands for £100million to part with Declan Rice…
ARSENAL’S RICE, CAICEDO VALUATIONS REVEALED
In the aftermath of bottling the title/succumbing to the inevitability of Manchester City, Arsenal seem to want it known that they will be going full-pelt this summer to avoid a repeat next season.
Their primary objective for the summer window is to revamp their engine room. Apparently, Mikel Arteta wants two new midfielders, with Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo at the top of his list.
The Times says Arsenal want to start talks with West Ham over Rice as soon as possible, with David Moyes acknowledging before the weekend that he expects his captain to leave in the summer. But Edu will have to charm the Hammers’ pants off because it is said that Arsenal value Rice at no more than £90million, while West Ham are looking for £100million-plus for the England star.
Rice and Caicedo could cost a combined £170million, according to the report, which puts the Brighton midfielder in the £80million bracket. Had they offered that in January, rather than faffing around with two low-ball bids, they might have pushed City even closer.
That wouldn’t leave much in Arsenal’s reported budget of £200million, especially with two defenders and an attacker – possibly Raphinha, Moussa Diaby or Mason Mount – still to source. But the Gunners intend to raise revenue through player sales, with Nicolas Pepe, Granit Xhaka, Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, Folarin Balogun, Rob Holding, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavaraes and Cedric Soares all up for grabs.
WOLVES NAME NEVES PRICE
Ruben Neves has been heavily linked with Arsenal in the past but the Gunners seem to have gone off the Wolves midfielder. Still, Neves is likely to have offers this summer from Barcelona and possibly Manchester United.
Wolves would be open to selling the Portugal international but The Telegraph says they won’t let him go cheap, even if he is approaching the final year of his contract.
Neves can go but only for £45million. Barca are looking for levers but the La Liga champions could benefit from Wolves’ reluctance to sell the 26-year-old to another Premier League club.
MAC ALLISTER WAITS ON UNITED, LIVERPOOL BATTLE
Alexis Mac Allister is set to follow Caicedo through the Brighton exit door this summer – Roberto De Zerbi admitted as much on Sunday. The Argentina star is likely to be watching the race for the top four as keenly as anyone else as he considers his next club.
Both United and Liverpool and interested in Mac Allister, who The Athletic says wants to play Champions League football next season.
United are currently in fourth place, needing two wins from their last three games, while Liverpool breathe down their necks. It is possible that both Liverpool and United are competing in the Champions League next season, with third-placed Newcastle looking over their shoulder. Their trip to Brighton on Thursday is massive.
Brighton’s Mac Allister stance is similar to their thinking over Caicedo: he can go, but only for the right price. Which reports suggest could be in the region of £70million.
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- Transfer Talk: Arsenal fears realised over Rice; Gunners hatch clever transfer plan after ’embarrassing’ offer
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- Manchester City Makes £90 Million Bid for Declan Rice, West Ham United Captain
- Transfer gossip: West Ham eye England trio with Rice windfall, Liverpool target France duo
